Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
20 So the Lord said, “The outcry against[a] Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so blatant[b] 21 that I must go down[c] and see if they are as wicked as the outcry suggests.[d] If not,[e] I want to know.”
22 The two men turned[f] and headed[g] toward Sodom, but Abraham was still standing before the Lord.[h] 23 Abraham approached and said, “Will you really sweep away the godly along with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty godly people in the city? Will you really wipe it out and not spare[i] the place for the sake of the fifty godly people who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the godly with the wicked, treating the godly and the wicked alike! Far be it from you! Will not the judge[j] of the whole earth do what is right?”[k]
26 So the Lord replied, “If I find in the city of Sodom fifty godly people, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord[l] (although I am but dust and ashes),[m] 28 what if there are five less than the fifty godly people? Will you destroy[n] the whole city because five are lacking?”[o] He replied, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.”
29 Abraham[p] spoke to him again,[q] “What if forty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.”
30 Then Abraham[r] said, “May the Lord not be angry[s] so that I may speak![t] What if thirty are found there?” He replied, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
31 Abraham[u] said, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”
32 Finally Abraham[v] said, “May the Lord not be angry so that I may speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He replied, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”
Psalm 138[a]
By David.
138 I will give you thanks with all my heart;
before the heavenly assembly[b] I will sing praises to you.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name,
because of your loyal love and faithfulness,
for you have exalted your promise above the entire sky.[c]
3 When[d] I cried out for help, you answered me.
You made me bold and energized me.[e]
4 Let all the kings of the earth give thanks[f] to you, O Lord,
when they hear the words you speak.[g]
5 Let them sing about the Lord’s deeds,[h]
for the Lord’s splendor is magnificent.[i]
6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks after the lowly,
and from far away humbles[j] the proud.
7 Even when I must walk in the midst of danger,[k] you revive me.
You oppose my angry enemies,[l]
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord avenges me.[m]
O Lord, your loyal love endures.
Do not abandon those whom you have made.[n]
Warnings Against the Adoption of False Philosophies
6 Therefore, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord,[a] continue to live your lives[b] in him, 7 rooted[c] and built up in him and firm[d] in your[e] faith just as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 Be careful not to allow anyone to captivate you[f] through an empty, deceitful philosophy[g] that is according to human traditions and the elemental spirits[h] of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him all the fullness of deity lives[i] in bodily form, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head over every ruler and authority. 11 In him you also were circumcised—not, however,[j] with a circumcision performed by human hands, but by the removal[k] of the fleshly body,[l] that is,[m] through the circumcision done by Christ. 12 Having been buried with him in baptism, you also have been raised with him through your[n] faith in the power[o] of God who raised him from the dead. 13 And even though you were dead in your[p] transgressions and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, he nevertheless[q] made you alive with him, having forgiven all your transgressions. 14 He has destroyed[r] what was against us, a certificate of indebtedness[s] expressed in decrees opposed to us. He has taken it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 Disarming[t] the rulers and authorities, he has made a public disgrace of them, triumphing over them by the cross.[u]
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days— 17 these are only[a] the shadow of the things to come, but the reality[b] is Christ![c] 18 Let no one who delights in false humility[d] and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths[e] about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind.[f] 19 He has not held fast[g] to the head from whom the whole body, supported[h] and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.[i]
Instructions on Prayer
11 Now[a] Jesus[b] was praying in a certain place. When[c] he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John[d] taught[e] his disciples.” 2 So he said to them, “When you pray,[f] say:
Father,[g] may your name be honored;[h]
may your kingdom come.[i]
3 Give us each day our daily bread,[j]
4 and forgive us our sins,
for we also forgive everyone who sins[k] against us.
And do not lead us into temptation.”[l]
5 Then[m] he said to them, “Suppose one of you[n] has a friend, and you go to him[o] at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,[p] 6 because a friend of mine has stopped here while on a journey,[q] and I have nothing to set before[r] him.’ 7 Then[s] he will reply[t] from inside, ‘Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed.[u] I cannot get up and give you anything.’[v] 8 I tell you, even though the man inside[w] will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s[x] sheer persistence[y] he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
9 “So[z] I tell you: Ask,[aa] and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door[ab] will be opened for you. 10 For everyone who asks[ac] receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door[ad] will be opened. 11 What father among you, if your[ae] son asks for[af] a fish, will give him a snake[ag] instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?[ah] 13 If you then, although you are[ai] evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit[aj] to those who ask him!”
NET Bible® copyright ©1996-2017 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.